The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-01-21
PUBLIC OPINION.

Nothing should be taught in the com
mon schools that will not be of practi
cal use in life. Bentty Young, Bos.
ton.
That IS not proper review that re.
quires the presentation of subject in
the same way it was first presented. -
Comr. z. b. StockWett. Rhode Island.
l do not believe an ideal course can
ever be arranged for grammar school,
because we do not know what the chill
dren will do after they leave the gram
mar schooL-G. Il. Weston, Rhode Is
land.
The broadening of the scope of ele-
mentary education, necessiLated by the
spirit of the age, must be in the direc-
ton of instruction in the elements of
natural science. T.. Wilson, Rhode
Island
How deep we are still i'm the mire!
We keep school," but do not teach.
We "hear Rotations" but do not give
lessons. "a recitation is a verbal repe-
tition of something committed to men,
ory.) We ''rule" our boys, we do not
guide them. We "make them study
their lessons" and do not develop their
Unborn faculties; and SO I'D infnitunl.
Our professional, technical terms are
indicative of a sad state of affairs. These
terms follow us like our shadow, and
we have yet to find the one who can
jump over his own shadow,-Dr l.. X.
ktensnl, Hamilton, o.
1t should be borne in mind there is a
learning period IN music as in all things
else. From eight to eighteen years OF
age is the learning period. Let pupils
undertake late to learn to sing, and they
will be found deficient in perception and
power to execute. They will lack com,
pass and strength of tone, and especial.
ly they will lack impulse. the desire and
pleasure of singing. 1t is noticeable
how much more readily young pupils
will learn to sing piece just as their
director wants them to sing. On the
other hand, if pupils early are taught to
sing, their organs develop, their tones
grow full and rich, and they acquire an
aptitude and love for singing. Is il
right to leave undeveloped,- if shriv'
eled by neglect,-capacities in the pupil
SO healthful in exercise and productive
of so much acknowledged good?-Jerse,
City Forensic.
The teacher should not be of thai
stern and solemn visage, that cold and
distant sort of don't-come-near-me ex'
preston, which is so repellent to the
loving heart Of childhood. There should
be no acidulous taste of vinegar about
her lips.-SupL j. s. Shoup, Woodbury.
Co., Ia.
No sadder sight in school manage
ment is found than to see the principal
of school dawdling to his school-house
ten minutes after every teacher has been
on duty and when half the pupils are
congregated on the playground. It is
at times when the young people are Al
semi-liberty that the watchfulness and
study and direction Of the principal are
needed. Colorado School Journal.
During the last half, or even quarter
of century, the educational world has
moved forward in many directions. The
movement may have been retrograds
sometimes. but on the whole it has beer
toward advanced positions, some Of
which are well occupied to-day. Tt
say that the old ideas and methods o.
education are as good as the later il
much like saying that the old stage
coach and the tallow candle are as gooG
as the modern railway and the electric
light-LotoeH School Committee.
The best teachers are not those who
never make mistakes, but those who
never make the same mistake twice
Many things can be learned only by ex
perience. No one can understand al
the peculiarities of the human mind
Some new phrase of character is seer
every day. 1t is natural to err under
such circumstances, but we should each
day rise above our faults. No one neeC
ever hope to obtain perfection. HI
must be strong indeed who never repeat!
a mistake. Each day weak places il
our methods should be strengthened. -
Educational WeeEly